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The Crown scraped against the broken blade she held over it.
“Not even if it falls towards your bare foot.”
Her stare moved from the Crown to my face. “Has anyone ever told you how ridiculous this place is?”
“For one hundred and twelve years.”
The answer earned a quick smile. It faded when the Crown pressed against the broken blade.
“I’m not using it to buy you a few seconds,” she said. “We take Adrian’s weapon without giving this one what it wants.”
“Agreed.”
Her grip tightened on the broken sword. “I’m going to enjoy destroying it.”
The certainty in her voice affected me more than the pain. I wanted to put her against the throne and remind both of us that her body still belonged to her. The blood running down my side made that a poor idea.
Bryony caught me looking at her.
“Don’t even think about it. You have a hole in you.”
“A temporary problem.”
She pressed the folded cloth harder against my side.
“One that’s leaking on my floor.”
“Your floor?”
She gave me a look and tore a clean strip from the hem of her black top. “Argue after I stop the bleeding.”
I let her wrap the cloth around my waist. Her hands stayed firm and careful. She didn’t apologise for refusing the Crown, and I didn’t insult her by wishing she’d accepted even a second of its control for me.
“You did the right thing,” I said.
“I know.” She tied the cloth tight enough to make me hiss. “You can tell me again if you need the reminder.”
I laughed despite the pain. “There she is.”
Lenora watched the silver light around the doors. “The main seal is weaker, but he’s stopped cutting it.”
“He knows the Crown can interfere with his commands,” Bryony said. “He also knows we’re waiting for his dagger hand.”
I tested the bandage. Blood still seeped through, although the pressure slowed it.
“He’ll change his approach,” I said. “We don’t need to predict every version. The dagger is the only tool that opens royal seals and keeps these cuffs active from outside.”
Bryony picked up my sword and handed it to me hilt first. “Then the next plan stays simple. He reaches in with it, and we take his arm.”
A soft metallic scrape came from under the throne.
The Crown slid back into the light.
Bryony lowered the broken sword towards it. “Stay there.”
The Crown stopped moving.
For several seconds, none of us spoke.
